Columbia creates sustainability office

The department was created with this year's budget.

By Travis Cornejo

Published Oct. 9, 2009

Columbia's 2010 city budget includes funds for an Office of Sustainability and a sustainability manager.

In his Aug. 14 City Manger's Perspective posting, City Manager Bill Watkins said the sustainability manager's purpose would be "to implement business-style plans that achieve energy reductions and other cost savings."

According to the Office of Sustainability Fund portion of fiscal year 2010 budget, the Office of Sustainability would ensure all areas of the local government and community are working together towards similar goals.

Assistant City Manager Paula Hertwig-Hopkins said this idea has been in the works for a couple of years.

"I'm not sure it was any one person's idea," Hertwig-Hopkins said.

Janet Moreland of MU's Sustainability Office said this is a "right" step for Columbia.

The budget stated the sustainability manager would work directly beneath the city manager and would supervise professional and support staff.

The minimum qualifications for the position include a bachelor's degree and master's degree, preferably in an engineering discipline or business administration.

A draft of the sustainability manager's job description states the manager would assist the city manager in coordinating the city facilities sustainability program.

The sustainability manager would be expected to collaborate with the Energy and Environmental Commission, the Water & Light Commission, the Building Commission, the Technical Working Group and others.

Hertwig-Hopkins said the goals of the Sustainability Office include coordinating a citywide sustainability effort and reducing energy levels in city-owned building.

In a July 6 statement, Watkins said all city buildings should be retrofitted for energy efficiency and should undergo an Energy Star assessment. A pilot program should be created to produce codes and incentives to construct energy efficient building.

"I believe sustainability is about more than climate control and energy," Watkins said. "It's about using all of our resources more wisely and making choices that support our future while scaling back on those that reflect our past."

The budget report stated the Sustainability Office would be responsible for integrating long- and short-term sustainability programs to create a more sustainable future for Columbia.

The expected outcomes of this new office include creating a Sustainable Action Plan, which other communities could copy, and educating the public on sustainable practices.

"The program will be partially funded over three years with Energy Stimulus Block Grant Funds from the U.S. Department of Energy," Watkins said.

The start-up funding from the grant total more than $1 million.

Herwig-Hopkins said another responsibility of the sustainability manager would be to oversee the coordination of all kinds of sustainability grants.

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks Director Mark Haim said this is a right move for the city, but there is still a lot Columbia could be doing.

Mid-Missouri Peaceworks, according to its Web site, "holds a vision of an ecologically sound, sustainable world and a violence-free community in which human equality and justice flourish."

Haim said problems he sees are attitudinal. People have a long way to go in terms of internalizing an approach to living that looks at the consequences of actions of the residents of Columbia.

"Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something," Haim said.